MATCH NOTES | #CHIvCLB – April 7

2ND LONGEST UNBEATEN STREAK SET

Crew SC’s undefeated streak in regular-season action came to an end following Saturday’s 2-1 loss against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The 14-match streak began when the Black & Gold defeated the Chi­cago Fire on August 12, 2017. Over that span, Crew SC compiled a 9-0-5 record, while outscoring opponents 27-13. The Black & Gold’s streak is the second longest in club history, behind only a 19-match undefeated streak from July 3, 2004 to April 2, 2005, per the Elias Sporting Bureau.

ZARDES SCORES 4TH GOAL

Forward Gyasi Zardes scored his fourth goal of the 2018 MLS regular season in Saturday’s match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Zardes’ goal came in the 29th minute when he tapped in the ball fol­lowing a rebound inside the box. Since joining Crew SC ahead of the 2018 regular season, Zardes has made five regular-season appear­ances (all starts) for the Black & Gold, scoring four goals. In 2017, Zardes made 24 regular-season appearances (23 starts) for the LA Galaxy, tallying two goals and two assists. Since joining the League in 2013, Zardes has made 136 regular-season appearances (121 starts), scoring 38 goals and providing 17 assists.

ZARDES TIED FOR 2ND-MOST GOALS IN MLS

Through five matches in the 2018 MLS regular season, forward Gyasi Zardes has tallied four goals. Zardes’ four strikes tie him with Josef Martinez (Atlanta United) and Dominique Badji (Colorado Rapids) for second-most goals in the League, behind only Felipe Gutierrez (Sporting Kansas City), who has five goals.

JIMENEZ MAKES 1ST START OF 2018

Midfielder Hector Jimenez made his 2018 MLS regular-season debut in Saturday’s home match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Jimenez started the match at leftback, playing 67 minutes, record­ing 63 touches and completing 48 passes. In 2017, Jimenez made 19 regular-season appearances (15 starts) while providing three assists for the Black & Gold. Since joining the club in 2014, Jimenez has made 92 regular-season appearances (61 starts) while registering one goal and 13 assists.

JAHN MAKES 2018 DEBUT

Forward Adam Jahn made his 2018 regular-season debut for Crew SC in Saturday’s match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at MAP­FRE Stadium. Jahn came on as a substitute for Jonathan Mensah in the 83rd minute. In 2017, Jahn made 21 regular-season appearances (one start), registering one goal and one assist. Since joining the Black & Gold in 2016, Jahn has made 34 regular-season appearances (six starts), while recording six goals and one assist.

BLACK & GOLD AMONGST TOP PASSERS

Through five matches in the 2018 regular season, several Crew SC players are amongst the top passers in MLS. Per Opta, Artur is currently in second place in attempted passes (342) and successful passes (295), behind only Minnesota United’s Ibson (386 and 317 passes respectively). Similarly, Federico Higuain is in 10th place in attempted passes (273). Also, Crew SC boasts five of the top 10 play­ers in passing accuracy amongst men who have attempted 250 or more passes, as Lalas Abubakar (92.99%) is in first place; Wil Trapp is in second place (90.19%); Jonathan Mensah (86.45%) is in fifth place; Artur (86.26%) is in sixth place; and Harrison Afful (83.59%) is in ninth place.

HIGUAIN LEADS MLS IN CHANCES

Through five matches in the 2018 MLS regular season, Federico Higuain leads the League in goal-scoring chances created includ­ing assists. Per Opta, Higuain has created 16 goal-scoring chances since the beginning of the season, including two secondary assists. In addition to creating these goal-scoring chances, the midfielder has also scored two goals to bring his 2018 output to two goals and two assists in five regular-season appearances (all starts).

HIGUAIN NEARING 150TH START

Federico Higuain is on the verge of nearing yet another milestone with Crew SC. The Argentine playmaker, who joined the club in 2012, has made 154 regular-season appearances (149 starts) and is on the verge of making his 150th regular-season start for the Black & Gold. Additionally, Higuain is sixth in Crew SC’s list of all-time regular-season starts, behind only Chad Marshall (250), Mike Clark (216), Eddie Gaven (198), Brian Maisonneuve (159) and Brian McBride (158).